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Climate Change
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress the Department for International Development has made in helping developing countries take advantage of the Global Climate Observation System for climate change observation and analysis.[HL1337]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): DfID has committed £5 million over five years, from 2006-07, to the Global Climate Observation System (GCOS) initiative to help Africa improve the use of climate information in development planning and disaster risk management. The initiative is divided into three phases. The first phase (2006-07 to 2008-09) will identify the key climate information needs to support achieving the millennium development goals. The second phase (2009-10 to 2011-12) will scale up good practice and the final phase (2012-13 to
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The programme will be launched at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa later in January. Work will then begin on preparing a detailed plan and full implementation will begin in the last quarter of 2007.
Disabled People: Blue Badge Scheme
Baroness Howe of Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have completed their consultation on the revised guidance to be given to local authorities on the operation of the blue badge (disabled parking) scheme; and [HL1377]
Whether they intend to publish updated guidance to local authorities on the operation of the blue badge (disabled parking) scheme; and, if so, when; and [HL1378]
Whether they intend to publish an updated edition of the explanatory booklet on the operation of the blue badge (disabled parking) scheme; and, if so, when; and [HL1379]
Whether they have considered extending the blue badge (disabled parking) scheme to provide parking benefits for a limited period to those who are temporarily but seriously disabled. [HL1380]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Following a review of the blue badge scheme, the Department for Transport has accepted a recommendation made by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), the department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people, that the scheme should be extended to people with temporary mobility impairments which severely affect their walking ability and are likely to do so for at least 12 months.
This change requires amendment regulations which we are currently finalising, along with new guidance to local authorities and a revised explanatory leaflet on the scheme. We intend consulting on this regulatory package shortly and implementing/issuing them as soon as possible thereafter.
Health: Waiting Times
Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average time it now takes for citizens to (a) see their general practitioner (GP); (b) see a consultant, on referral by the GP, by way of the “choose and book” system; (c) obtain an appointment for a diagnostic procedure, for example, an MRI scan, a CT scan or a blood test, on referral by a consultant; (d) obtain a follow-up appointment with the consultant to discuss the results of the diagnostic procedure; and (e) enter hospital for the appropriate surgery or treatment. [HL739]
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The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Data on the average time it takes to see a general practitioner are not available centrally. However, monthly data from primary care trusts do indicate that almost everyone is now able to see a general practitioner within 48 hours. The Healthcare Commission's annual report for 2006 suggests that 88 per cent of patients confirm this.
The median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment at the end of October was 5.9 weeks. Specific data on waiting times to see a consultant when referred via choose and book are not available centrally.
The October data show that the median waiting time for the 15 key diagnostic tests was 5.2 weeks. The data do not differentiate between types of referrer.
Information on follow-up appointments is not available centrally.
The median inpatient waiting time at the end of October was 6.9 weeks.
HIV/AIDS: Papua New Guinea
Lord McColl of Dulwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will create a technical co-operation fund to transfer United Kingdom expertise, experience and best practice to Papua New Guinea to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. [HL1376]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): DfID has no programme in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and no plans to establish a technical co-operation fund to transfer UK expertise, experience and best practice to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in PNG. The largest donor to the HIV/AIDS sector in PNG is the Australian development agency, AUSAID. DfID is working closely with AUSAID on major programmes to address HIV/AIDS in a number of other countries in south-east Asia. These include the Three Diseases Fund in Burma, in which poverty and conflict issues have similarities to those found in PNG. Through this joint working, DfID is seeking to transfer some of the UK's expertise in tackling HIV/AIDS in extremely poor countries to AUSAID to apply to its programmes in the region.
Iraq: Local Assistance
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they acknowledge some responsibility for ensuring the safety and future well-being of Iraqis who have worked for or helped British forces and international and voluntary organisations in Iraq; and, if so, what action they are planning. [HL1210]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): For current Iraqi employees we acknowledge and fulfil our responsibilities for safety by providing regular security briefings. Operational circumstances permitting, we may also vary working locations and hours and provide temporary accommodation within military camps. Once individuals leave our employ, however, we are unable to offer any further assistance. We cannot comment on measures offered by other organisations.
Natural England
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Natural England has established green infrastructures in all of England's growth areas.[HL1462]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Yes. Natural England is helping local authorities and regeneration bodies to prepare green infrastructure strategies in partnership with other key stakeholders in all four of the Government's growth areas.
Natural England is also working with partners to promote the preparation of green infrastructure strategies in the Government's recently announced growth points.
Once completed strategies have been prepared in each case, Natural England will encourage work to embed them within local development frameworks and will work in partnership with developers, house builders and others to support their effective delivery.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Natural England established agreed processes for all major Natural England products and services.[HL1463]
Lord Rooker: Natural England has operational processes in place to support all the products and services it is currently delivering. As part of its effort to improve the service it provides, it is reviewing all its business processes, with a view to establishing a single integrated business model for Natural England.
Rural Payments Agency
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons are currently employed in the Rural Payments Agency; of these, how many are employed in monitoring and checking the cross-compliance provisions of the good agricultural and environmental condition; and what minimum agricultural qualification is required by those who inspect farms for this purpose. [HL1518]
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The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The total number of staff currently employed by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is 3,174.
More than 200 inspectors are trained in all aspects of cross-compliance inspections currently carried out by RPA*.
The majority of RPA inspectors have a formal agricultural or related qualification ranging from national certificate/NVQ 3 to postgraduate level and/or a strong farming background. Others have become inspectors after gaining relevant skills and experience elsewhere in Defra/RPA. All inspectors undertake a rigorous internal training programme including mapping and measuring, arable and livestock skills, the requirements of each statutory management requirement falling within RPA's remit and the full range of GAECs. Training is conducted both on and off farm, with input from Defra/external experts as appropriate.
The Environment Agency is responsible for carrying out inspections in relation to SMRs 2, 3 and 4 (groundwater, sewage sludge and nitrate vulnerable zones); and the State Veterinary Service for inspections conducted under SMR 10 (restrictions on the use of substances having hormonal or thyrostatic action and beta-agonists in farm animals); a13-15 (control of animal disease and 16-18 (animal welfare).
*RPA inspectors carry out inspections in relation to SMRs 1—wild birds; 5—habitats; 6, 7 8 and 8a—livestock identification; 9—restrictions on the use of plant protection products ; 11—food and feed law and 12—prevention and control of TSEs.
Volunteering
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The work being done by volunteers for the natural environment is hugely valuable and much appreciated.
Volunteering England's 1997 National Survey of Volunteering showed that 48 per cent of the adult population are involved in formal volunteering work (that is, through an organisation). Of this number, 5 per cent did so to conserve and enhance the natural environment. These figures are based on the main purpose of the group or organisation through which the person volunteers. The latest version of this survey—the National Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving—is due later this year.
An objective in the England Biodiversity Strategy is to increase time spent and number of people volunteering for biodiversity conservation. The indicator for this shows positive progress; for example, the number of Wildlife Trust volunteers has increased by 28 per cent from 21,600 to 27,700 over the five years to 2005.
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In addition, Natural England is also working to increase the ability of individuals to take action for the natural environment. Nearly 2,000 volunteers work with Natural England on its national nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest. In 2005-06 the value of this work was assessed at £1.8 million. Natural England has a target to increase volunteer involvement by 5 per cent.
Waterways
Lord James of Blackheath asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the replies by Lord Davies of Oldham on 15 January (Official Report, cols. 429-30) on the reduction in the budget to British Waterways, whether they have any plans to unlock selectively some of the value reportedly tied up in the non-performing assets of related land adjacent to waterways; and whether any such money released could be used to compensate for the
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The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): British Waterways has powers under the Transport Acts 1962 and 1968 to undertake waterside regeneration and property development in the vicinity of its waterways. It has a strong track record of achievement and innovation in delivering both urban and rural regeneration through its involvement in property investment and development.
Its 1,700 properties are currently valued at £520 million and generated income of £63.2 million last year. British Waterways keeps its operational and investment property portfolio under regular review to ensure that it continues to provide a long-term income stream for the future maintenance and improvement of its waterways. This in turn provides social, economic and amenity benefits and contributes to the British tourist industry.
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